Greece in November: calm, authentic, unforgettable. With a crew of five we set off from Alimos, sailing via Aegina and Poros into the western Cyclades – Kythnos, Loutra, Syros – and back via Kea to the Temple of Poseidon. Empty harbours, friendly Greeks, clear water and real adventure instead of high-season crowds. October and November are Greece's best-kept sailing secret.

Sailing area: Mediterranean, Aegean
Country: Greece
Departure: Athens Alimos Marina
Destination: Athens Alimos Marina
Route: Athens - Aegina - Poros - Kythnos - Syros - Kea - Cape Sounion - Alimos Marina
Nautical miles: 220
Travel dates: 08.11.2025 – 15.11.2025
Sailing yacht: Monohull, Sun Odyssey, 479 foot
Charter company: Dream Yacht Charter
Organiser: Skipper-Alliance

Sailing in November – when Greece breathes again
If you want to experience the real Greece, come in November. No overcrowded harbours, no queues, no cruise ships – instead, harbourmasters with time for a chat, tavernas opening just for you, and a stillness on the water that simply doesn't exist in high season. In November 2025 I sailed the Saronic Gulf and western Cyclades with a crew of five. Here's the trip report.

Setting off from Alimos – relaxed right from the start
Departure from Alimos Marina in Athens. We'd ordered our provisions online in advance and had them delivered directly to the berth – a solution I'd recommend to anyone. No major shopping trip with half the crew, no check-in stress. We cast off on time and in good spirits.

Aegina & Poros – arriving in the sailing area
First leg to Aegina. The main harbour was surprisingly busy on a Saturday – even in November, Athenian weekend sailors like to moor here. Tip: arrive early or plan for a weekday. In Poros we suffered a water pump failure. The local dealer had the spare part, but the nearest technician wouldn't have been available until the next day – so we repaired it ourselves. It worked, and our stock of experience grew a little.

Kythnos – night arrival after a thunderstorm passage
From early afternoon onwards, we headed towards Kythnos. Dark clouds were gathering, but we decided to go for the long leg anyway. The right call. We sailed through several thunderstorm squalls, lightning flashing to left and right – the crew stayed calm and focused. At midnight we entered the west harbour of Kythnos as the second boat in. Deserted, quiet, a bit choppy but fine, and with plenty of experiences under our belt :-D.

Loutra – magic without the high-season decoration
The next morning we sailed around the northern tip to Loutra. A beautiful harbour with hot springs, fully booked out during high season – the harbour master told us that just the week before, everything had been full. In November: everything closed, everything quiet, everything lovely. Loutra scores with its hot springs, which are of course perfect in November.

Ermoupoli / Syros – the surprise of the trip
A long leg to Ermoupoli, the capital of Syros – my first time there. A genuine, lively town, not just a tourist backdrop. The pier is a bit rough in November, with a slight swell causing some rocking – but the restaurant at the harbour (Ιθάκη του Αή) made up for everything. Excellent food, warm service, fair prices. Ermoupoli is well worth it, even deep in the off-season.

Return leg – Kea & Cape Sounion
On the way back via Tinos we had a proper northerly (Meltemi). At Kea we entered the small side harbour at night – quiet and empty. The finale was Cape Sounion: a taverna still open, a late afternoon coffee, and then the floodlit Temple of Poseidon in the darkness. Not a bad last evening.

Conclusion: October & November – my clear recommendation
Yes, sometimes you need to put on long trousers. Yes, on the smaller islands many places are closed – you do need to plan for that. But we still jumped into the sea, went snorkelling, felt the sun on our skin and experienced Greece as it really is: calm, warm-hearted, breathtakingly beautiful.

October and November are not compromises. They are their own way to travel – and my personal recommendation for anyone who wants more than high-season crowds.